Amalgamator



(No Model.)

N. L. RABER.

AMALGAMATOR. No. 377,272.

Patented Jan. 31, 1888.

ATTORNEYS.

UNrrnn rArns tries.

nrsrrr AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,272, dated January 31, 1888.

Serial No. 210,704. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LNATHAN LEROY Hanna, ofCorv-allis, in the county of Benton and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in amalgamators, and particularly in that class of such machines employing mercury; and the 'invention consists in certain features of conwhich to receive motion from a suitable driver. I

This shaft C also has eccentrics 1, for operating the concentrator. Centrally on the baseplate I secure-it may be by screws 2, as showna pedestal, D, havingits uppersnrface beveled at 3 downward toward its outer edge andvprovided with a central upwardly-projected portion, (I. This pedestal is bored axially, and an opening is formed through the base-plate in line with said bore to permit the insertion of the shaft E for connecting the driveshaft G with the feed-wheel. This shaft E has bevel-wheel e, geared with wheel 0, and is connected at its upper end with the feedwheel F. I journal the screw feed-wheel F on the pedestal and form such wheel with a cylindrical portion, G, having a spiral thread, g, and a lower tapered portion, H, having flutes h.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the feed-wheel is revolved by the driveshaft through the described connections.

Over the feed-wheel I secure the cover-tube I, conformed approximately to said wheel and having its lower edge extended down close to and below but separated from the lower edge of the wheel, as shown in Fig. 1. This cover I is supported on threaded bolts I, which project fsom the baseplate up through openings in lugs on the cover, and the latter is secured by'nuts on said boltsone above and the other below said lugs. By this construction the cover is supported so it can be adjusted to regulate the feed of the machine by raising or lowering the cover by properly turning the nuts 2'. The drum J is secured on the base surrounding the coverI, and is made sufficiently larger than said cover to form the mercury-space K.

The valve L, which I call the checkvalve, is formed, by preference, of a ring of rubber adapted to encircle the pedestal D,and is provided with an annular flange, Z, which bears against the cover I. This valve, it will be seen, permits the pulp, &e., to be forced by the wheel past it into the mercury, and yet prevents said mercury from coming in direct contact with the wheel. By so prevent ing contact of the wheel and mercury I avoid the flouring of the latter, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

\Vithin the drum I secure a perforated plate, M, which serves to divide the mercury'space, and is arranged above the point at which the pulp, &c., is fed into the mercury. By this plate, it will be seen, I break up the rotary motion given to the mercury bythe pulp, 850., as it enters the mercury, so that the upper portion of the niercury-that is, the mercury above said plateis free from all rotary currents, and will consequently act with better effect on the minerals contained in the sand, pulp, &c., than if disturbed by the rotary motionit would have if it were not for the dividing-platc.

In the upper end of the mercury-space I arrange the concentrator N. This concentrator comprises two concentric rings, 4. and 5, fitting, respectively, the exterior of the cover I and the interior of the drum J, and plates or sections O, preferably of copper, secured between said rings and charged with mercury. As the pulp and sand pass .over the sections of this concentrator the globules of mercury or amalgam are held on the sections or discharged into the body of quicksilver in the drum. By preference the sections 0 are placed at angles of forty-five degrees. In order to secure a better effect on the pulp and sand it is preferred to give the concentrator an oscillatory motion. In the construction shown this is attained by connecting said concentrator with one end of lever-arms P, which are pivoted between their 1 ends at 6, and have at their lower ends yokes p, fitting on the eccentrics 1. Thus it will be seen as the shaft revolves the concentrator will be given an oscillatory rotary motion, as desired.

While for convenience of reference the part N may be termed a concentrator, it is perhaps, more strictly speaking,- an agitator, for it operates to prevent sand and pulp from accumulating and packing and clogging at the top of the mercury in the mercury-space. This is done by its agitating motion, and at the same time it takes up or accumulates any globules of mercury and precious metals contained therein that may be in the sand or pulp centrator and the shaking movement given such-part, as before described. It will be understood that when the mercury and precious metals have accumulated on the sections to a sufficient degree of size or weight they will pass by their own gravity back into the mercury in the drums. f

In practice the sand, pulp, &c., is fed into the hopper i, mounted on the cover I, and passes thence to the wheel, by which it is forced into the lower portion of the mercury and near the bottom of same. The sand and pulp, being lighter, will rise to the surface, andin passing up will be freed of all, the precious metals, which, being heavier than the mercury, settle to the bottom of the drum. Silver, though lighter, readily amalgamates with the mercury, and will remain in drum.

The drum may be filled with mercury to any desired height; but ordinarily, say, from fourteen to eighteen inches will prove sufficient.

passes upward in the operation of such may chines. My improvement differs in these among other respects, in that it provides a check-valve for preventing the immediate contact of the feeder and the mercury and the consequent flowing of the latter from the motion of the former, provides a perforated partition-plate for breaking up the rotary circulation given to the lower portion of the mercury by the action of the pulp forced thereinto, and leaving the upper portion of such mercury undisturbed, and I also provide aconcentrator at the upper end of the panand means for oscillating such concentrator. 1

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is 1. In an amalgamator, the combination of the base, the drum mounted thereon, the feedwheel, the cover fitted over said wheel, the

wheel, the cover, the drum forming the mer-. cury-space, and an annular ring check-valve,

substantially as set forth. 7

3. The combination of the drum, a feeder, an agitator or concentrator consisting of a series of fixed inclined amalgamating-plates connected together, and means for oscillating said concentrator, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the base, the drum, the screw feedwheel, the cover fitted over said feed-wheel, the boltsI, extended through said cover, and nuts 2' z, whereby such cover may be adjusted, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the drum, the revolving feeder, the coverfitted over said feeder and forming an annular mercury-space within the drum, the annular agitator or concentrator arranged at the upper end of said mercury-space and provided with amalgamatingplates, and operating means, substantially as set forth. r

6. The combination of the feed-wheel,means for operating said'wheel, the cover, the drum forming the mercury-space, the annular ringvalve,and the annular agitator or concentrator located at the upper end of the mercury-space and provided with fixed inclined amalgamating-plates, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the screw feedwheel, means for operating the same, and the pedestal, of the cover extended down below the lower edge of the screw feed-wheel, the drum, and an annular ringvalve secured to the pedestal and having an annular flange lpearing against the cover, substantially as set orth.

8. The combination ofthe screw feed-wheel, means for operating the same, the drum, the cover, the pedestal, and the annularring-valve surrounding the pedestal and having an annular flange bearing against the cover, substantially as set forth. I

9; The improved amalgamator herein described, comprising the base, the drum, the pedestal, the screw feed-wheel, the cover, the annular ring-valve supported on the pedestal and having the flange bearing against the cover, the perforated dividing-plate, the conccntrator, and means for oscillating thelatter, I 

